COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets look to extend their home winning streak to eight games when they host the Colorado Avalanche at Nationwide Arena on Monday at 7 p.m.The surging Blue Jackets (10-4-2) will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after they beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 at the Verizon Center on Sunday for their fourth straight win. The Avalanche (8-9-0) claimed a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center.The Blue Jackets hold a 5-0-0 record versus current division leaders (Montreal, Anaheim, New York Rangers and Chicago) and are 2-0-0 versus Washington, the reigning Presidents Trophy winners. They are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have won seven stright at home.One of the reasons Columbus is having consistent success is 22-year-old center Alexander Wennberg. He leads the team with 14 assists and is second to captain Nick Foligno in points with 17.Now in his third year with the team, Wennberg (3-14-17 in 16 games) is showing more confidence in shooting the puck while showcasing the latent skill the club hoped for when they drafted the Swede 14th overall in 2013.Hes an important guy for us, for as young as our team is, said Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella. Hes probably one of the most skilled players, most skilled center (on team). Its a big year for him to take more responsibility in his play, away from the puck and with the puck.Hes still young, but hes a third-year pro. This is a big year for him and I think hes started off very well.Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (10-4-1) has started 15 of 16 games for Columbus, holding a 2.19 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.The Avalanche are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games. They are without the services of two of their centers and team leaders due to injury. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog has a lower-body injury suffered in Los Angeles last Tuesday and assistant captain Matt Duchene suffered a concussion on Nov. 11 against Winnipeg.Duchene hopes to be able to play at Columbus.I would say its definitely a possibility, he told the Denver Post. Im not going to say for sure, because I thought I was going to be good for Dallas and then two hours later, Im sitting on the plane and Im not feeling good. Its an up-to-the-minute thing. Itll probably be a game-time decision even then.Despite missing his fourth consecutive game on Saturday, the 25-year old Duchene still leads the team with six goals in 13 games (five assists, 11 points). Landeskog is third on the team in points with eight (four goals, four assists in 15 games).Center Nathan MacKinnon, 21, leads the club in assists and points, recording 4-8-12 in 17 games.Weve pushed hard in some of the games, especially the Dallas game, lately, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told the Denver Post. But we came up short. (Saturday) we kept pushing. It didnt matter what the score was, we tried to stay with our game.Its showing the character that our guys have and were starting to move in the right direction.The Avalanche are hoping goaltender Semyon Varlamov asserts himself soon. Hes 4-8-0 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 12 games. Backup netminder Calvin Pickard is 4-1-0 in six games with a 2.07 GAA and .931 save percentage. Shoes NZ Sale . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. 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Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. PHILADELPHIA -- Danny Garcia passed the test.The WBC welterweight champion vowed not to overlook Samuel Vargas with a major matchup against WBA champion Keith Thurman looming in March, and he didnt in front of his hometown crowd.In a non-title fight scheduled for 10 rounds, Garcia, stopped Vargas in the seventh round Saturday night at Temple Universitys Liacouras Center. Afterward, Garcia climbed through the ropes and stood at the edge of the ring, yelling and pointing at Thurman, who was below him ringside at the television broadcast table. The two then stood toe-to-toe in the ring.I just had to tell Keith hes next, Garcia said. Im gonna whoop him. Theres not much more to say. He got what he asked for and now hes going to face a real big dog.After dominating nearly every round, Garcia (33-0, 19 KOs), who was barely hit throughout the night, pinned Vargas (25-3-1) against the ropes late in the seventh round and landed a few power shots, which led referee Gary Rosato to stop the fight.Garciaa, wearing tiger-striped trunks, dropped Vargas to the canvas in the second round with a big right hook after ducking under a punch attempt.dddddddddddd Vargas barely made it to his feet before Rosato counted to 10 just before the bell sounded to end the round.It was just a well-timed shot, Garcia said.Garcia landed power punches in every round. A powerful combination nearly ended the fight late in the fourth round, but Vargas was again saved by the bell.I felt a little rusty, said Garcia, who last fought in January when he defeated Robert Guerrero to win the WBC title. But I started putting my punches together and came out victorious.Next up is the biggest fight of his career.Garcia and Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) will unify their belts March 4, 2017, at a location still to be determined.They said that he wanted a tune-up, Thurman said. Now hes ready to come see me. ' ' '